Koh Lanta

Where to stay

Budget travelers mostly land around Klong Dao (Long Beach) in the north, within easy reach of the Ban Sala Dan ferry pier. If Klong Dao feels too built-up, head 12 km south along Route 4244 to Khlong Nin, where guesthouses are cheaper and the beach quieter.

Getting around

• Rent a scooter from a shop near Ban Sala Dan pier on your first morning (around 200 THB/day). Nearly every hostel sits off a short dirt track from the main island road, and there's no useful songthaew network.
• Eat on the east side: Lanta Old Town's wooden pier road has Thai restaurants running 60-80 THB a plate, versus 120+ at beachfront spots on the west coast.
• If you're arriving in December or January, book your bed at least a week out. Klong Dao fills completely during those months and showing up without a reservation often means paying resort prices or hunting further south.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest in June and September when monsoon swells close the west-coast beaches. December through February, especially around Klong Dao, is peak demand and prices roughly double.